In My True Element

Chapter 4

"Air, you said you had some kind of plan?"

The three of us sit at the coffee table with the talisman lying right in the middle of it.

"Yes, I do," I answer Water's question scratching my upper arm. It still feels a little bit awkward to be in their company after so many years of solitude. "I'll go to Brackwick, promise to give him the jewel in exchange for Earth, and then the two of us will run away together." I quickly move my hand to the side showing how fast we can disappear.

"That's not much of a plan," Fire notes. She's sitting very close to me, from time to time touching my left hand as if to make sure that I really am here in her living room. "He isn't stupid; he won't give you Earth back before you give him the jewel. He might not even believe that you don't know where it is. Maybe we should ask some of the witches for help?"

"I don't want to involve anyone else." I say looking down at my hands. Without the powers our odds of defeating Brackwick are slim to none and I'm not willing to put anyone's life at risk. No one else will die because of me. Not again.

"Then how about this – you'll go in there alone," Water leans forward ignoring Fire's disapproving sigh, "you'll distract them while the two of us try to get Earth out. Once it's accomplished we make sure you don't stay there long."

"He'll expect you to be there," I close my eyes and shake my head, not wishing to put their lives on the line. "My going there alone might throw him off balance, even if just for a little bit. It'll give me an edge."

"Then what do you expect us to do? Sit here and wait for you? Why did you come here in the first place?" Fire's eyes shining with angry sparks are narrowed on me.

"I need help finding Brackwick's place. Plus I was hoping to score some guns, maybe knives."

"Air, if you think we'll let you go there alone, you're mistaken. Okay, here's what we're going to do..."

What kind of a douchebag would want to live in an actual castle?

I look around and marvel at the size of the thing. Situated at the edge of a cliff, it must present a breathtaking view during the day. At night, however, the dark towers and the gabled roofs illuminated by the full moon carry about them an ominous presence.

Hoping that I am not making a mistake, I press myself closer to the cold ground and crawl forward trying to be as quiet as possible. Fire and Water are not here with me, and it makes me a bit nervous.

As I progress forward, contradictory feelings make me almost nauseous. I want to get into the castle as soon as possible to save my brother: he's there because of me. But at the same time I want to run away afraid of who I might meet if I do get inside. Am I ready for the meeting? Back in Fire's condo I convinced myself that I was ready, but now my confidence is wavering. What will I do if Brackwick's...

I shake my head forbidding myself to think about it, raise the upper part of my body above the grass and spot a few soldiers walking the perimeter. There is just enough light for me to see their shadows walking in different directions or standing still in one place. I stop breathing and wait for one of the soldiers to get closer to my position. His moves are slow, and he keeps turning his head from left to right all the while pressing his automatic gun close to his body as if expecting a monster to jump him any second.

To control my uneasiness I start counting in my head. One, two three... Does he really have to move so slowly? I lower my head to the ground and take a calming breath in through my nose... Thirteen, fourteen... I lick my lips with impatience feeling my muscle tensing and look up, the soldier is still too far away...twenty one, twenty two...As I get to thirty, he finally comes close enough for the attack. I wait for five more seconds, and as he turns his back to me, I jump to my feet.